Posted on 05/09/2019 5:23:46 AM PDT by SJackson
A coast-to-coast hiking and biking trail is almost a reality.
The proposed Great American Rail Trail, a multi-use trail that will run across multiple states, has been in development for several years. Today, the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) unveiled in a statement its preferred route for the trail, which will connect more than 125 existing trails and 90 trail gaps over 3,700 miles between Washington, D.C., and Washington State.
Originally envisioned in the 1980s, the RTC has been conducting a route assessment for the last 12 months, analyzing more than 34,000 miles of multi-use trails across the country and working with more than 200 local partners and 50 state agencies to plan the route. The proposed preferred route is planned to be one continuous route (or over 80 percent continuous) and entirely off-street, made up of almost all existing trails. Great American Rail-Trail Milo Bateman
“When defining the preferred route of the Great American Rail-Trail, we sought a cross-country route that would provide the highest-quality experience while delivering significant economic and social benefits to the communities it connects,” said Liz Thorstensen, vice president of trail development at RTC, in a statement.
The trail itself runs through 12 states including Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and Washington State, plus Washington D.C.,
According to the RTC, nearly 50 million people living within 50 miles of the trail will be able to find new opportunities to explore the great outdoors once the trail is complete. The 3,700-mile trail will consist of 1,961 miles of existing trails and 1,782 miles of identified gaps (sections of trail in need of development to fully connect the Great American into one single route). These trail gaps also pose more opportunities for connecting trails in the future. From the sound of it, it’s sure to blow some of the best trails in the U.S. straight out of the water once complete. The Biggest Mistakes Hikers Make When They Get Lost on a Trail Whether you’re camping, hiking, or just exploring a national park, it’s important to know what to do if something goes wrong. You Might Like 4 Underrated National Parks for Your Next Trip 'Gramping' Is the Latest Travel Trend Grandparents Need to Know About
Plus, the RTC predicts that the Great American Rail Trail could potentially bring significant economic benefits to communities along the trail.
“[The Great American Rail Trail] magnifies on a grand scale the benefits that trails have delivered to communities for decades,” said Ryan Chao, president of RTC. “Whether bridging gaps within and between communities, creating safe walking and biking access to jobs, transit, shopping and green space; or serving as recreation for cyclists, runners and casual daily explorers, this will be America’s trail.” Great American Rail-Trail Hung Tran
At the moment, Washington D.C. and Maryland are the only parts of the trail that are 100 percent complete. The RTC predicts the trail completion is still “decades away,” but the whole of the trail is 52 percent complete.
The RTC has planned projects and initiatives to start making the Great American Rail Trail a reality. In addition to working with local and state partners, the organization is striving to reach one million pledges from outdoor lovers to help complete the massive trail project.
On May 8, the RTC will be hosting live events along the preferred route, which will also be broadcast live on the organization’s Facebook page and on its website from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. EST.
More information on the trail, live events, and how to make a pledge can be found on the Great American Rail Trail website.
Excellent comparisons and point. Of the millions of American bicyclists out there, there are few billion that don't, won't or can't ride bikes for whatever reason. It is a luxury and it seems the more money the bike costs, the more the rider wants US to give them a place to ride it...
This has always been an unenjoyable thing for me to toss around in my mind, as you may have gleaned from my posts, I DO enjoy bike trails and am an advocate.
I love Sirloin Steak too, but if I am in debt, I am eating hamburger, or mac and cheese if hamburger is too expensive. And I definitely am not buying a new car or swimming pool until I am out of debt...
Call me paranoid, but I wonder if this isn’t a way to make it harder for any new private rail company to compete with AMTRAK.
I can’t imagine why any private company would think it could compete with AMTRAK. The railroad industry carried its passenger operations for decades like an anchor around its neck until the Federal government stepped in back in the 1970s and created AMTRAK. Passenger rail is a terrible business model for the private sector.
It's not a viable option for most people, so the "market" is too slim. Besides, it's generally not very price competitive
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